Goes without saying every club has three genuine tall defenders f/b, chb, third tall who usaully takes a Lynch or Stringer type.
It has been shown time and time again that Batchelor can not cope with talls he just is not tall enough. He also has never ever provided enough run. We have just two blokes who fit the bill Grimes and McIntosh.Grimes has shown he can do well in the air so play him tal, and then play McIntosh across h/b to provide badly needed run and cover in the air.
We complain about the lack of rebound yet there is a gift horse staring them in the face. It also provides flexability and accountability if developed. Grimes has best performed on smalls imo if one is getting hold of us you can then switch Mcintosh to third tall.
I have always argued McIntosh is a defender first and foremost who will provide substantial run. but we have failed to develop him in the role.
Rance is a lock, so is Astbury simply because there is no other player of kpd size anywhere near the level.In fact we dont have another genuine option so are stuck with him like him or not.
Imo the rest of the back half should be made up of Castagna or short and Markov or depending on opposition make up, all three.
FB: Grimes - Astbury - Castagna/Short
HB: Markov - Rance - McIntosh
There is no soft pricks like Houli ,B Ellis.
It has lots of height Rance, Astbury, Grimes, McIntosh.
Lots of run Markov,McIntosh, Rance, Castagna.
lots of pace Markov, Castagna, Mcintosh in fact only Astbury is slow and he will have a job on the slower bigger kpf/rucks.
They are all accountable and can defend an opponent
